About the Honda NSR500
Riding
the Honda NSR 500 to five championships in a row from 1994, Michael
Doohan has sparked worldwide attention. The powerplant of his machine
consists of a crankcase lead valve 2-stroke 112 degree V-shaped
4-cylinder equipped 499cc engine, which pumps out significantly more
power split radiator, air ducts and other parts of the power train are
neatly concentrated around the powerplant, and securely held in place
by a twin-tube aluminum frame. The 1999 version of this motorcycle
features mechanics cultivated over years of competition. This is
particularly true of the engine, which due to a rule change in 1998 was
altered to use unleaded fuel only. In contrast, the suspension remained
largely unchanged, consisting of an inverse telescopic system on the
front and a pro-link system on the rear. Only some minor changes were
made to the geometry of this system, ensuring reliable braking ideal
for competitive conditions. As in 1998, Michael Doohan, Alex Criville,
and Tadayuki Okada make up the Repsol Honda NSR 500 riding team. At the
3rd GP in Spain, top contender Doohan was involved in a serious
accident. His teammate Criville, however, finished with a victory in
that race, and later extended his winning streak to four victories,
crossing the finish line first at the 4th GP in France, the 5th GP in
Italy and the 6th GP in Catalonia. |
